Carrying case for portable dictating machines



CARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE DICTATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1960 C. J. GORMEL Jan. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 48 4 59 38 46 48 INVENTOR CLARENCE JAMES GORMEL CARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE DICTATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1960 C. J. GORMEL Jan. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FIG. 4 CLARENCE JAMES GQ'MEL A bliormj be carried about in a persons pocket.

United States Patent 3,019,300 CARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE DICTATING MACHINES Clarence James Gormel, 175 South Ave., Rochester, N.Y. Filed Dec. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 74,871 1 Claim. (Cl. 179100.1)

This invention relates to an improved carrying case for a dictating machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a carrying case for a dictating machine of the type using a recording tape and a hand microphone.

Portable dictating machines have become quite commonplace in recent years, manufacturers having perfected small, compact, battery-powered units. As a general rule, these portable dictating machines comprise two independent parts: (1) A combined recording and loudspeaker unit; and (2) a small hand microphone which is connected to the unit by a wire cord. When the recorder is not being employed, the microphone is disconnected from the unit by removing a jack on the microphone cord from a receptacle in the side wall of the combined recording and loudspeaker unit, thus providing two independent parts.

Portable carrying cases have been provided for housing the combined recording and loud-speaker unit, but, so far as known, no adequate provision has been made heretofore in such carrying cases for housing safely and securely the microphone. The microphone and cord must Obviously under such conditions, the microphone may be easily lost or damaged during transit. Aside from this drawback, conventional carrying cases do not lend themselves to expeditious operation of the dictating machine. In some cases the combined recording and speaker unit has to be removed from the carrying case; and in any event the microphone jack has to be plugged into the unit. Then the microphone has to be held in the hand or rested upon a nearby surface where it will pick up the sound which is to be recorded. To hold the microphone in the hand may, moreover, prove bothersome; and if it is rested on a desk or other surface, it may easily be accidentally knocked from that surface. In addition, the length of cord which trails from the microphone to the recording unit very often has a tendency to dangle in inconvenient positions. Sometimes, too, it is desirable to record a conversation or a discussion without the other party knowing that the conversation or discussion is being recorded. It is very dilficult to do this with a conventional portable dictating machine or tape recorder, because it is difficult to conceal the microphone.

One object of this invention is to provide a compact carrying case which will securely house both the combined recording and loud-speaker unit, and the microphone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable carrying case for a dictating machine which will permit the machine to be operated without removing the microphone from the carrying case.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case for both the microphone and the combined recording and speaker unit of a portable dictating machine, which will permit the microphone to remain connected at all times with the combined recording and speaker unit during transit, so that the machine is ready at all times for instant use upon throwing the starting switch.

A still further obiect of this invention is to provide a carrying case for a portable dictating machine which will permit the machine to be employed for recording without its being recognized as a recording machine.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent herein- 3,619,300 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 after from the specification and from the recital of the appended claim, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, where like numerals designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a carrying case made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the cover being shown closed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of this carrying case, the case being cut away in part, and the cover being shown open, FIG. 2 further illustrating how the combined recording and loud-speaker unit and the microphone are positioned in the carrying case;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a partial end view on an enlarged scale at the left hand end of the case in FIG. 2, and showing the carrying case with its cover closed but with an end flap rolled back from an opening in one end of the case to expose the receptacle for the microphone jack and one .of the control switches of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, the carrying case, here designated generally at 10, comprises a bottom portion 11, which constitutes a receptacle, and a cover 12. Cover 12 is hinged to the back of the receptacle by a pair of hinges 13 (see FIG. 4) and is adapted to be secured in closed position by a latch 14 which is pivoted on a lever 15 and which is adapted to engage a keeper 16 that is part of plate 17. Lever 15 is pivoted on a plate 18. Plates 17 and 18 are riveted to the bottom and cover portions, respectively, of the case. An adjustable carrying strap 19 for the case 10 is pivotally fixed as by rivets 20 to the opposite end walls of the receptacle l1.

Removably held within bottom portion 11 of the case, as shown in FIG. 2, is a conventional combined recording and loud-speaker unit designated generally at 21; the unit being snugly positioned and protected from excessive shock or vibration by means of strip 22 of foam rubber or the like, which is secured to portions of the back and end walls of receptacle 11. The loud-speaker portion 24 of the unit has protruding above its top face a volume control dial 25 and an off and on switch 26. The recording portion has on its upper face spindles for removably holding conventionally mounted recording-tape spools 27. The tape passes from one spool to the other through transcribing and erasing head 28. Dispose-d at opposite ends of this head are the switches 29 and 30 (inscribed with arrows) which control the direction of movement of the tape through head 23. Protruding upw rdly from head 28 and slidable thereon is the combined start and stop switch 33 for the combined recording and loud-speaker unit. The operating handle for switch 33 is triangular in cross section, the base thereof sliding on the surface of head 28 and the apex extending upwardly above the receptacle 1i. Protruding from one end of the unit is knurled knob or play-back control switch 34. This end of the unit also includes a receptacle 35 into which the jack 36 of a microphone cord 37 is plugged to connect a hand microphone 38 to the combined recording and loud-speaker unit 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, hand microphone 38 includes conventional protector fins or ribs 39 extending outwardly in front of the screened portion 40 of the microphone.

The bottom portion 11 of the case has a compartment 42 in one corner of it which is defined by the front wall of the bottom portion 11 of the case, by a back wall 43 which extends parallel to the front wall of bottom 11 of the case and is spaced therefrom, and by parallel end walls 44 and 45. The portion of the front wall of re ceptacle 11, which constitutes the front wall of the compartment 42 has an aperture 46 therein that is covered by a screen 47 held tautly across the opening by struts 48. The compartment 42 is of a size to accommodate the microphone 38 together with the bulk of its attached cord 37. (See FIG. 2.) When the microphone is placed in the compartment its front 49 faces aperture 46 with the ribs 39 abutting screen 47. The microphone cord extends back through a hole 49 in the backwall 43 of the compartment 42 and along the combined recording and loud-speaker unit to the point where it is plugged into receptacle 35. To secure the microphone in compartment 42, a covering leather strap or the like 51 is secured at one end thereof between compartment end wall 44 and the adjacent end wall of the receptacle 11. At its other end, this strap is releasably fastened by a conventional snap fastener 52 to the compartment end wall 45 as shown in FIG. 3.

With the entire recording unit assembled in the receptacle in the above manner, the back wall 43 of compartment 42 will abut the front wall of the combined recording and loud-speaker unit 21 adjacent the recording end of the unit. The back wall 43 of compartment 42 thus serves to maintain unit 21 in position against the resilient strip 22 on the receptacle back wall. Since the oblong microphone compartment 42 extends only part way across the receptacle 11 adjacent the front wall thereof, it cooperates with the front wall of the recording unit to define a further compartment or space 53 in which spare tape spools 54 or the like may be stored. (See FIG. 2.)

To permit operation of the recorder when the carrying case cover 12 is closed, the cover has an aperture or slot 55 therethrough for accommodating the portion of the lever of the recorder switch 33 that extends above the receptacle 11. Slot 55 is covered by a resilient flap 56 of leather or the like which is riveted at one end to cover 12 and releasably secured to the cover at its other end by a conventional snap fastener 57. Slot 55 affords access to the recording starting and stopping switch 33 which may be actuated by ones finger even though cover 12 be closed.

To aiford similar access to switch 34 and the receptacle 35 for the microphone cord, the adjoining end wall of the receptacle 11 has a rectangular aperture 58 therethrough that is normally covered by a leather flap 59 or the like which is fixed by rivets 60 at one end thereof to the receptacle (FIG. 1), and which is releasably secured at the other end by conventional snap fastener 61 which includes snap head 62 fixed to the receptacle end wall adjacent aperture 58. As shown in FIG. 4, this flap may be disengaged from the end wall and rolled back to expose receptacle 35 and switch 34.

When jack 36 of the microphone cord 37 is plugged into receptacle 35, both the cover 12 and flap 59 may be closed as shown in FIG. 1. Thus assembled, the device is ready for operation, one needing only to open strap 56 and move recording switch 33 to its start position. Pick-up sensitivity having been previously adjusted, sounds will easily be picked up by the microphone ,38 through screened aperture 46, and recorded by unit 21. Thus, a person can carry the recording machine into a conference room, set it down in an inconspicuous place, or even carry it in his hand and record whatever is spoken in the room or within pick-up distance of the microphone without other parties in the room or gathered about knowing it. This may be of immense value on occasion. If so desired, however, covers 12 and 51 may be opened so that the microphone 38 may be removed from compartment 42 and used in conventional manner.

The combined recording and transcribing unit illustrated in the drawings is a tape type machine. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to use with such a machine but may be used for transporting other types of machines, also, such as wire and disc, etc.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claim.

I claim:

A carrying case for a portable battery-operated recording and transcribing unit and for the microphone used with said unit, said carrying case comprising a bottom section which is generally rectangular in cross section and which has a bottom with side walls extending upwardly therefrom, a cover hingedly connected to said bottom section, and means for locking said cover in place, said bottom section having a first compartment therein which is of generally rectangular shape in crosssection and which is bounded on one side, at least, by one of the side Walls of said bottom section, a partition wall bounding one other side of said first compartment, said first compartment being adapted to receive and hold the microphone, said one side Wall having a screened opening therethrough through which sound may pass from the outside to said microphone, said partition wall cooperating with the other side walls of said bottom section to hold said combined recording and transcribing unit in said bottom section, said compartment and said unit cooperating with two of the side walls of said bottom section to form a second storage compartment, one of the walls of said first compartment having a hole therethrough through which an electrical cord, which is connected at one end to said microphone and at the other end to an electrical plug, may be passed, said unit having an electrical receptacle on one side adjoining one side wall of said bottom section and into which said plug may be plugged to connect the microphone to said unit, said adjoining one side wall having an aperture therein through which access may be had to said plug and receptacle, said unit having a start and stop switch, said cover having an aperture therethrough through which access may be had to said switch when said cover is closed, and means for releasably covering said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 524,216 Italy Apr. 21, 1955 

